TORY ELECTIONEERING

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 12, 14 February 1946, Page 4

TORY ELECTIONEERING

REACHES TO WESTMINSTER. .. By the Standard’s European .. Correspondent, Edric A. Hille. LONDON, January 24. So long and so malicious are th 2 tongues of New Zealand Tories, their gossip reaches right to the Central Methodist Hall, in Westminster. They are saying, in effect, that the brilliant part played by the New Zealand delegation of the UNO Conference is nothing but a Labour Party electioneering stunt. 1 was introduced to this grotesque tongue-wagging after hearing Bevin’s speech last week. Approached by an acquaintance in the lobby, I was asked if I knew anything about New Zealand affairs. Then my acquaintance quickly went on:— “I suppose you know the real reason for Fraser’s coming to the conference? It’s an electioneering stunt. The idea is to gain prestige so as to bolster up the Labour Movement for the coming election. That’s why New ZeauKi withdrew in favour of Yugoslavia why Fraser backed Australia up to hilt for a seat on the Security Council. ’ ’ This clumsy Tory rumourmongering —l’ve no doubt the story is being repeated in other parts of London, particularly in the City, where the re establishment of a Tory Government in New Zealand would be hailed with glee —is striking in that it reveals New Zealand Tory propagandists as being apparently as much out of touch with reality as their counterparts in Britain before the election last year.